End of Year and a New Beginning

22 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by in Christmas, Columbus OH, Events, family, Ohio, personal, photography

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HI All, with no explanation needed, it’s been a long year.

It began great with a trip to Cuba in January via Global Volunteers.

That was the tip of the iceberg that is still working it’s way around the world.

While visiting Hemmingway’s house I became enveloped in a group of tourist from… China. A day or so later the virus announcement happened and we wondered about getting back to the States. Last day in Cuba and we had a new housemate from… Italy. Cuban airport packed, Miami International packed. First of February and still very clueless, and… lucky!

March came the great flood. 1500 sqft under 2 ft of water in the lower basement turned production area. And it was ‘black’ water. The new house is the first on the sewer line :-] Turns out the replacement powerline pole ended up in the sewer chamber in the corner of the yard. Sewer chamber filled with dirt washed from around the pole. The basement was convenient so it filled. Lost 3/4 of a decade of BW images from the 70’s and about 10k color images. Yep, up off the floor on racks out of the way. Water was so high and forceful that it took the containers – heavy containers – off the racks and turned them over. :-[ By the time I got the water pumped out and had a chance to start looking around it was too late to save. Everything had be so violently pushed around it was hard to what was where, plus everything was covered in crap water, literally.

Now back to that virus thing. A crew showed up to help cleanup, which was great. Could not have done it myself. Had 10ish people at anyone moment in the basement with and without masks for a couple of days. Then 2 weeks of repair and replace people in and out. Might have dodged a virus bullet there.

Spent the rest of the year seeing a few friends and keeping to the house, plus reworking that flood thing. Had to start from scratch, again. Very depressing every time I looked at the containers with the lost images.

It’s been a long year for everyone, much longer for some. To those that have lost a loved one a heartfelt hug.

So we come to the end… of this endless year. Time to brighten up, think positive, make new plans, get shot and hopefully move on. To that end a little something to cheery to look at. Within minutes of the house a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Enjoy the Holiday’s and look forward to a new New Year.

All images © 2020 Ed Zirkle

Veterans Day

12 Monday Nov 2018

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As we celebrate the past and now of those that have stood for all of us over the years let us give thanks that we can look to a brighter future.

Here are some rather appropriate words written over 150 years ago that ring so true today:

“I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the alter of freedom.”

And to a nation divided:

“If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide.”

Both attributed to Abraham Lincoln.

Naturalization Ceremony 2008 Gines Ramon Pedraza, E6, New River, Cuba Dion Leo Pierre, E6, Ft Bragg, Tinidad & Tabago
copywrite 2014 Ed Zirkle

Farewell and Unification

01 Saturday Sep 2018

Posted by in family, Famous, learning, Notable, Political, WashDC

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As I watch the Sen. McCain memorial service at the National Cathedral I remember the many trips to that revered site in within Washington DC.  Such a fitting site for remembrance and hopefully renewed unification for the nation.  A place of gathering for ALL people from anywhere to take a moment to reflect upon who we are and what kind of Nation we want to be.

The many nuances of the past week and today, hopefully, will not go unnoticed and provide a solid groundwork, nay groundswell of unity as we go forth into the future.

Godspeed Sen. McCain, Godspeed

2018 Ohio State Fair
2018 Ohio State Fair
2018 Ohio State Fair
2018 Ohio State Fair
2018 Ohio State Fair
2018 Ohio State Fair
2018 Ohio State Fair

Sen. John Sidney McCain III

26 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by in family, Famous, Notable, Political, WashDC

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A lone voice in the wild west of politics has passed.  The hope is his voice will always be heard and his courage passed on for the future of the Nation.

I never had a chance to meet Sen. McCain, rather, I viewed the circus of campaigning and the crowds he commanded and the timbre of his voice.

From our family of veterans and my Brother currently serving in the Navy to the Navy veteran and his family – Thank you for your Service.

 

All images © 2008 – 2018 Ed Zirkle

Blast from the past

01 Wednesday Aug 2018

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While going thru a collection of photographic and movie posters I came across a set of posters from the old photo dept at OSU.  Wondering where some of the old gang is now.

Lori McCargish, Mike Williams, Lorraine Vibberts Kaplan, Lucretia Knapp and Jose Cardenas with Mohsen Shirzadian plus a signature that I can’t make out.  Jose? know who it is?

Enjoy and share…

This 4th 2018

04 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by in 4th of July, NYC, Photojournalism, WashDC

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statue-liberty-sunset-widelux-ebay

The 4th has always been a great time for me.  I remember sitting on the banks of the Detroit River (late 50’s OMG) watching the fireworks on the river celebrating both Canada Day and our Independence Day.  And, over the years I’ve had the experience to have photographed 4th events from all over the US. It’s a time that brings us all together.  And when I say all, I mean all from all over the world.

wtc5 - Copy (300x206)

The country we were, and I hope we will be again contained people that opened their doors to you and came from around the globe.  I’ve photographed projects that have taken me around the US pre and post 9-11 and wondered what people would be like post. They were the same. Open and honest, giving and forthright. It seems to be the same bell curve with a couple of extremes left and right, but most of us are right in the middle.

So, take a moment to reflect as to where we came from in the past, why we came here and where do we want to be in the future.

I’m hoping that the next time I get to roam around the US I find us to be the same open heartfelt American that I’ve seen in the past.

Have a great 4th and God Bless…

 

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These images represent immigrants sworn in to be American citizens, small town parades, back country and big town celebrations. And, people from around the world visiting Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. And the image of the youths around the Liberty Bell:  On every Fourth of July, at 2pm Eastern time, children who are descendants of Declaration signers symbolically tap the Liberty Bell 13 times while bells across the nation also ring 13 times in honor of the patriots from the original 13 states.  All images © 2018 Ed Zirkle

 

4th of July Southport, NC
Naturalization Ceremony 2008 Gines Ramon Pedraza, E6, New River, Cuba Dion Leo Pierre, E6, Ft Bragg, Tinidad & Tabago
Naturalization Ceremony 2008
Fireworks over on the East River, images taken from Jersey side, Weehawken Township, JF Kennedy Blvd overlooking the Hudson
Lewis Center Business Association 2014 4th beach bash and fireworks
Lewis Center Business Association 2014 4th beach bash and fireworks
Lewis Center Business Association 2014 4th beach bash and fireworks
Washington, DC fireworks 2007 from the Netherlands Carillon see http:\www.nps.govarchivegwmpcarillon.htm From this vantage point you can see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the Capital.